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How Can We Better Identify Mesorectal Fascia Involvement?

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Multidisciplinary Management of Rectal Cancer

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Abstract

The mesorectal fascia (MRF), or visceral layer of the endopelvic fascia, encircles the rectum and the mesorectal fat, nodes, and lymphatic vessels to form a distinct anatomic unit, called the mesorectum. The MRF runs along the anterior aspect of the sacrum, where it fuses with the presacral fascia, and then laterally on either side of the rectum. Anteriorly in males, it forms a dense band of connective tissue posterior to the seminal vesicle and prostate gland called the Denonvilliers’ fascia [1].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Catholic University - School of Medicine - Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy

    Brunella Barbaro MD

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  1. Brunella Barbaro MD
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Correspondence to Brunella Barbaro MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Radiation Oncology, UniversitĂ  Cattolica S Cuore, Rome, Italy

    Vincenzo Valentini

  2. Head, Div. Clinical Oncology Research, University Clinic Halle (Saale), Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany

    Hans-Joachim Schmoll

  3. Department of Surgery, Leiden Univ Med Ctr, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Cornelis J. H. van de Velde

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Barbaro, B. (2018). How Can We Better Identify Mesorectal Fascia Involvement?. In: Valentini, V., Schmoll, HJ., van de Velde, C. (eds) Multidisciplinary Management of Rectal Cancer. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43217-5_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43217-5_10

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-43215-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-43217-5

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